Ahnika's History

As a toddler, Ahnika was left in a weaver's basket on the doorstep of a small, rural cothold run by a middle-aged married couple of crafters. Her foster parents, Seren, a Journeyman Healer specializing in midwifery, and Xavier, a Master Weaver, made inquiries to try and find Ahnika's parents, but they were unable to find them. Unable to have children of their own, they were only too happy to take her into their already over-sized brood of fosterlings and named her Ahnika, not having any idea what her real name was.

Other than having to learn to share with her foster-siblings and deal with over-crowding and not a lot of personal space, Ahnika didn't have any terribly traumatic childhood issues. It was rather mundane as upbringings on Pern go, although to say it was dull would be terribly off-base. With a family as large as the one she grew up in, there was always someone playing pranks on someone else, or sibling brawls, or someone falling out of a tree or getting lost in caves or going off to the Crafthall for apprenticeship or being Searched.

Ahnika developed a rather no-nonsense maternal instinct, formed initially by her attempt to emulate Seren, who she idolized from an early age. She had hopes, strong hopes, that she would develop strong Healer instincts and wanted to go into apprenticeship for the Healercraft as soon as she came of age. Instead, they found she struggled more with Healer knowledge than she did with cooking and overall running of the household. One would think that the constant on-goings at the cothold with all of her siblings would drive a person to want a quiet, settled life, but Ahnika seemed to thrive on it, really. The more juggling she had to take charge of, the more she thrived. It was the quiet times in the cothold where she found herself in more trouble from sheer boredom. She would experiment with recipes or get into some mischief with Seren's Healer trappings or Xavier's Weaver dyes even at the risk of getting into trouble over it, rare as those days were. It seemed she feared idleness more than anything else.

At first when she finally conceded she'd never make the Healercraft, her bubble was burst hard, but soon she learned that she was needed in this near-headwoman, near-baker capacity. It was precisely this feeling of being needed that allowed her to get over her initial disappointment.

She found contentment in helping Seren run the cothold as she continued into her teen years and passed up a couple opportunities to apprentice in the Bakercraft or become an assistant to a Headwoman because of it. However, this did not keep her from dreaming of being more involved and integral to something bigger and better, of adventure and excitement and other horizons, and when she learned of the exodus to the southern continent, she took advantage of it to seek out those new adventures and knowing that her management skills in hearth and kitchen would likely prove to be helpful at the new Weyr. As long as she continued to push herself to learn as much as possible and broaden her horizons, too, she would never have to risk being abandoned again as she had been as a toddler. She would find a home that needed her the most and if any abandonment happened, she would be the one doing it.

History at Eastern Weyr:

Amazingly enough that the teenager didn’t have something terrible befall her on the way, Ahnika managed to catch up with the group of disgruntled folk being led by Indira toward Nerat. She spent much of her time in the beginning of her time with that group as quiet observer, learning by example and filling any role that needed filling as they went. If someone who was an able-bodied cook was down one day on account of being sick? Ahnika took up the wooden spoon. If someone needed an extra set of eyes to watch the littles? Ahni was there. She became a sort of Girl Friday for the group, and picked up not just a network of friends and associates within them, people to be counted on, but also picked up new skills and knowledge, absorbing it all like a sponge. While she was friendly and not shy, she wasn’t particularly an extravert, either at this stage, since she was still largely in observer mode. She took an immediate liking to Indira, herself, seeing the woman as someone with a very similar disposition and skillset and only too eager to learn more and stuck with her as often as possible, playing an assistant to her.

Her Girl Friday role carried on over to Eastern Weyr itself when the group was brought there after having been recruited by the goldrider, Randi, who would become the weyr’s junior weyrwoman. She made more friends and even ticked off a few others as her self-confidence only grew under Indira’s mentorship and it looked more and more like she was destined for a junior headwoman knot. A close friendship developed with Ciara, another girl about Ahnika’s age who also had some similar holder values, while a begrudging friendship formed with Merendezen, who’d later become M’zen, and a bronzerider named E’ro would get off on the wrong foot with Ahnika and spend a fair amount of time, at first, trying to win her trust back. A tumultuous relationship with Max, Indira’s son, stumbled out of the gate, so to speak, but took off down the track with a passionate fire nonetheless. And a variety of other friendships and associations, some good and some bad, would form, and just as Ahnika felt certain Indira was gearing up to ask her to take the junior headwoman knot, a position Ahnika would have only been too pleased to accept, E’ro finds the redhead instead and asks her to stand for the two clutches that were due on the sands. It took a little bit of convincing, but she accepted in the end, and along with Merendezen, became one of the earliest candidates who would stand.

Candidacy wasn’t much different from the odds and ends work she had been doing for Indira, so there was little adjustment. The physical labor involved in helping to dig the new lake was probably the biggest adjustment for her on that level. On a relationship level, her circle of friends broadened to include many of the other candidates and drudges who they usually worked alongside while her relationship with Max strengthened and the two of them secretly declared their love for one another.

But just when everything looks to be going smoothly, that’s usually when things start to go wrong. Right? The weyr was thrown into mass mourning and fury over the destruction of two of the eggs on the sands begotten by Kaseth and Yzuruth’s coupling. Shortly after, a search led to the discovery of a body deep in the tunnels of the weyr. An investigation began, and security of the weyr fell to the shoulders of Indira and Max who employed their network of able-bodied men and women as both guards and investigators to try and rout out the troublemaker(s). Of course, Ahnika’s desire to feel useful and contribute led to butting heads with Max, and to a lesser degree Merendezen, both of whom wanted to keep Ahnika out of any trouble. The situation was exacerbated when a man named Phineus, who was a budding homicidal maniac, latched his affections onto Ahnika and when she rejected him unkindly, he grew violent. Luckily, Max and Merendezen got to them in time and incapacitate him and throw him out of the weyr. After speaking to the senior weyrwoman, Alara, it was determined that Phineus was to be found and brought back for proper justice for attacking Ahnika and hopefully prevent him from attacking anyone else.

Max was only happy to oblige, it seems, and went out after Phineus with one of his men, Yaron, merely a handful of days before the first clutch hatched. As a result, Max, the man who had captured Ahnika’s heart was not, present the day that the dragons began to hum and the candidates were ushered onto the sands. Having grown enamored through her time as a candidate with the idea of Impressing and the thought of never again needing to fear being abandoned and cast aside, Ahnika stood on the sands beside her friend Ciara and watched as dragonet after dragonet hatched and chose their lifemates. She was pleased nearly to the point of tears as Ciara was chosen by the gold dragonet Suosith and was so distracted she nearly missed the tall and stocky Trial By Fire green dragonet until Jhath soberly and ceremoniously rested her head on Ahnika’s shoulder and claimed her for her lifemate.

The match between Jhath and Ahnika couldn’t have been more harmonious. The pair seemed instantly bosom companions and while some of other weyrlings expressed awkwardness at getting used to the mindvoice of their dragons, the internal communication seemed perfectly natural for these two. They were even often seen looking in the same direction or moving simultaneously in some respect. While Jhath grew and somewhat grew a little out of that seemingly involuntary twin-like connection, their internal bond has only strengthened with each coming to realize that they can and will always be able to count on one another to the bitter or not so bitter end, as the case may be.

Two very significant examples of this during weyrlinghood for Ahni and Jhath is when Ahnika bumped heads with acting weyrlingmaster F’min which resulted in her being issued more physical training as part of her penance. The redhead ended up enjoying the extra exercise and training and adopting more of it in her own free time. Then sometime later Ahnika and Jhath imposed themselves into a dangerous plot by a Bitran crime lord to try and capture (or recapture) the weyr’s bar owner, Jaya. In both instances, the fiery passionate weyrling pair proved themselves to one another in pushing the envelope of their abilities and devotion. Not that they handled the situations optimally, of course, being new to the business of righting injustices and defending the meek in such a unified way, but there was little doubt over their steadfastness and heart to see things through and stand by each other through thick and thin.

Throughout all this time the relationship with Max continued. There were ups and downs, break-ups and reconciliations, but they stuck it out, even while many others felt that it was only a matter of time. For who would think a rider and non-rider would make it? Such odds were against them. But somehow they managed and they were making it work.

Training continued for Ahnika and Jhath, meanwhile Max was being trained in a way himself, inducted into the crimelord syndicate to represent the entire southern continent. Yet as business begun in earnest for the new crimelord, their relationship took a turn for the worse, accusations of distrust and backstabbing cast about, and their attempts to repair the tear seem unsuccessful. Ahnika threw herself into training even harder than before, working herself to distraction. Never one to dwell on the past, she found solace in her bond with Jhath and their future together as a Threadfighting pair.

Training began to shift more into drilling and the polish was applied to the rough diamonds that would be dragonriders of Eastern Weyr upon graduation. Her hard work paid off when the Weyrling Class began to graduate, with herself the first of the graduating class. Newly appointed to the Avarice Wing, Ahnika and Jhath prepare themselves for what will come in the next chapter of their lives.

Relationships:

Alara - They met briefly in the Living Caverns before Ahnika had to leave, and so the longest and most meaningful discussion Ahnika had with the senior weyrwoman was over a misunderstanding in the Infirmary. But, that aside, Ahnika likes Alara generally, was even touched that the weyrwoman saw fit to come visit Ahnika over the rumors in person, and Ahni admires how Alara seems able to diffuse tense situations, or just remain calm and unruffled in general. She hopes to make a similarly good impression on the senior weyrwoman.

Andi - More or less indifferent about Andi as Ahni's only met her once, but leaning towards liking her. She's cautiously intrigued by what may or may not be developing between her and Zen. Now that Andi is a fellow weyrling, and a green-bonded one at that, Ahnika hopes to try and forge a stronger friendship with the other young woman. However, she's yet to really find a suitable opening to make that connection with her. Time will tell if these two remain acquaintances or develop into friends.

Cheusia - The brief encounters Ahnika has had with Cheusia have been charged with a lot of drama, and so Ahni generally likes Cheusia, yet associates a lot of high emotional stress with the Healer woman just by the circumstances of their encounters. It will be interesting to see if Ahni can get past that association to relax enough around Cheusia and possibly become friends with her one day.

Ciara - Lots of love for this fellow teen. Ahnika sees Ci as her best friend and will confide in and look out for her accordingly. Ci's always been there for Ahni when she needed a friend. Ahni is very loyal to Ci and will do just about anything to protect her and be there for her in return. Now that Ciara has Impressed Suosith, her loyalty and pride in her friend is even stronger, fully intending to help her and Suosith any way possible during weyrlinghood.

Eissa - Ahnika likes Eissa generally, having only met her once, though she thinks Eissa may be a little too traditional-minded for the pair of them to really be able to bond.

E'ro - Annoying and infuriating at their first and second meetings. Ahnika sees him as out of control and dangerous. He is her antithesis in many ways. However, after talking more with Rocio, Ahni is considering that perhaps she over-reacted a little, and maybe, just maybe, she could learn to be his friend without feeling utterly exasperated. She was Searched by E'ro, and being that he was the catalyst to her eventually Impressing Jhath, it will likely go a long way to making inroads for a potential friendship between these two.

Indira - Her mentor and the woman she wants to be just like when she "grows up". In many ways, Ahnika sees Indira as a big sister. She is devoted and loyal to the headwoman and looks up to her a lot. Indira is also Max's mother, though, and with their romance ending there is no telling how that may or may not strain the friendship she found within the Headwoman.

Jaret - This fellow has Ahnika more than a little stumped regarding what she thinks of him. On the one hand, she can sympathize with his apparent lack of understanding about weyrlife. On the other hand, she is put off by his seemingly lack of manners. For now, she remains neutral. More time around him might bring her to determine if she likes him or not.

Jaya - Initially was intrigued by this bar owner and eager to learn a thing or two about running bars, figuring it might someday prove helpful. Then, when informing Max of this, he confided in Ahni about his previous liaison with Jaya. Ahni was pretty direct about it when she visited Jaya to help her with the bar and found it even harder to dislike the woman. They've come to terms with their situation for now and only time will tell if these two can ever be called friends.

Jhath - Her "larger than life" green dragonet lifemate. These two are so very much alike in many ways, they've developed a harmonious habit of regarding the world around them simultaneously, turning their heads this way and that way in unison. They both have a firm sense of justice that flouts tradition and a drive to be the best they can be and prove any and all unfair assumptions wrong, and blessed with a fiery passion that often trips over propriety. While other new weyrlings are taking awhile to adjust, these two have taken to each other's presence like ducks to water, requiring only a little time for Ahni to get used to filtering Jhath's voice, both internally and externally. Jhath is Ahni's rock, her pillar, her strength and fire in those rare moments when the redhead just wants to curl up and cry or flee, instead of standing up and fighting the injustices served her. Most importantly, however, Ahni never, ever, ever has to feel abandoned. Jhath will be with her through thick and thin, standing tall and strong at her side no matter what adversity is sent their way.

Kason - Doesn't know him very well. Only briefly met him, but felt more than a little embarrassed at the time and so her perception of him is colored by that. Generally indifferent about him, but leaning toward dislike by association.

Kestian - Somewhat standoffish, which confuses Ahnika a little, but not too much. She likes him generally, and likes to think of him as a friend. I mean, they scrubbed each other's backs, after all.

Lexi - What little she vaguely remembers of this young woman was that she came to Ahni's aid when she needed help, and without even knowing Ahni. So, while Ahnika hasn't had much involvement with her, she generally likes her and feels grateful for her help.

Max - Max captivated her initially, unable to explain the odd magnetic attraction to the disreputable beast manager. As their interaction progressed, an infatuation developed into a full-fledged romance. Unfortunately, a seed of doubt proved their undoing as a couple and Ahnika appears to want to have nothing to do with him anymore. She's given every indication, publically, that she's moved on and so should he.

Merendezen - Initially, thrilling and breathtaking, Ahnika has found herself quite speechless at times just from under the brilliance of his charming smile alone. But she was too afraid of the danger she sensed within him to develop more than a friendship with him, and even that has been rocky recently. Since his close friendship with Max has developed, their friendship has been even more strained at times, with Zen quite readily taking Max's side in things than her own. But generally, she counts him as a friend more than some of the other weyrlings as she can speak more freely around him about certain things, and she was secretly glad to have him in weyrlinghood with her.

Nara - After being transferred here under mildly stormy circumstances from Ista Weyr, Nara has found a resource and potential friend in Ahnika, who helped her find her way around the weyr and make some introductions to certain people that Ahnika deems important to stay on the good side of, aside from the obvious choices (such as the weyrwomen and weyrleader). Ahnika likes the quirky and brutally honest sense of humor in the older greenrider and finds herself able to actually relax her guard around her compared to some other riders. In time, Ahnika will see Nara as a bit of a rider-mentor (where Indira is a professional and personal life-mentor) and able to go to her for various concerns and questions without fear of betrayal.

Nenienne - This fellow candidate has more or less captivated Ahni in a friendly way. She likes her, thinks Neni is a hard worker and generally a good sort, but Ahni worries about her, even moreso since Neni didn't Impress, and Ahni seeks to try and cheer her up often or look out for her in other ways.

Neythan - Ahni was quickly impressed with Neythan's problem-solving skills and out-of-the-box thinking, getting to know him to some degree while they were Candidates together. There was some minor strife when she thought he was picking on others, but the two seemed to get beyond that, even to the point that she accepted some comfort from him when she was feeling upset. Neythan seems to have the type of personality, when he doesn't rush to judgment about people, that appeals to Ahni, and she has begun to see him as a friend.

Randi - A lot of respect for this weyrwoman, and Ahni identifies a lot with her too. Ahni also appreciates Randi wanting to look out for her, but is worried Ahni will be perceived as weak and unable to do for herself. She is eager to make a good impression on Randi.

Rocio - A pretty deep heart to heart got Ahni to see a rather insightful young woman in Rocio, now Rio, with a terrible past that tugs at the heartstrings. She is happy Rio Impressed Eovarijath, feeling that the woman deserved this, possibly more than any other.

Teallan - Ahnika has only been around Teallan a few times, but what she's seen and heard of her Ahni likes. She found the other candidate's enthusiasm and optimism about Impression and Candidacy pretty nice and refreshing. However, since Teallan did not Impress, Ahni worries about her much as she is concerned for Neni.

Uveline - Initially these two hit it off somewhat badly with Ahnika inadvertently being dismissive of Uveline's values on raising children, but they seemed to just be content avoiding one another. However, as candidate chores have put them in positions where they have to work together, the animosity from Ahni's side has only increased. Uvenline just seems to grate on Ahni's nerves, for whatever reason, and Ahni - direct type of person as she is - isn't afraid to say as much, leading to more arguments. Since Uveline Impressed Enceth, Ahnika is recognizing (with much help from Jhath) that some sort of accord needs to be reached between these two in order for the fight to be more properly taken to Thread. So, she's extended the initial olive branch the night of the Hatching when they got back to the barracks, and it will be left to be seen if these pair can make any kind of full truce.

Vanielle - Ahnika likes Vanielle mostly, though worries about the drudge-turned-candidate as being a bit of a push-over, not willing to make a stand for what she wants to do as opposed to what society expects of her. Like many of the other candidates, Ahni feels a bit of a need to look out for Vanielle, but only so far as to try and get the girl to see she can do whatever she wants and to Between with what others think. Now that the Hatching has concluded and Vanielle did not Impress, Ahni intends to continue to keep her eye out for Vanielle and make sure she is bouncing back to her drudge duties okay.

Zhia - Having only met Zhia once, and briefly at that, Ahnika is generally neutral about this kitchen helper. The brief encounter, however, did not leave Ahnika with a bad taste, and so she mostly suspects they'll get along whenever they actually sit down and have a lengthy conversation.

Nara (formerly Narodla) and Inefredath
Nara and her green lifemate, Inefredath, are among the newer transfers to Eastern Weyr after somehow, if rumors are true, repeatedly rubbing the weyrwomen and weyrleader in Ista the wrong way. Those who have met the early-30-something Nara since their arrival and spent any length of time around her can well imagine how she may have annoyed the Istan leaders. She is a free-loving opportunist and while she has her “good-girl” moments, the words “noble” and “honorable” shouldn’t be used with her in the same sentence. In the skies, she knows her duty and while she and Inefredath will generally stay on the sweep mission, they are not above taking calculated risks off-course and bucking the plan laid out by their wingleader if it means saving a life or taking advantage of some unanticipated opening or even more simply, satisfying some showboating desire. On the ground is another matter altogether. Nara is quite the stereotypical greenrider, fun-loving and flirty and seeking as little to do with duty and responsibility as possible. She gambles and drinks and gets into a fair bit of mischief just for the sake of it or for the sake of needing her ego stroked. She is even not above some petty crimes of opportunity either for the simple purpose of pranking someone or for more selfish and greedy purposes. But even when she takes risks and causes trouble, she has a very strong instinct of self-preservation and rarely knowingly puts her life in any more jeopardy than it already is simply by virtue of being a dragonrider during a Pass. Nara is inspired in personality and looks by the character Vala Mal Doran from SG-1.

Inefredath, while not the smallest of green dragons, is slightly under the average size for greens at 17 meters. Her hide is predominantly a deep hunter green with a mottled pattern of sea-foam green on her wings, and a solid tone of it on her underside between her chest and back legs. Like most greens, she enjoys aero-acrobatics, though she tends to overcalculate her maneuvers, which gives her the appearance of hesitation when she does them usually, if only by a few heartbeats. This pays off with extremely precision flying skills, however. If ever there was a need to conduct an in-flight emergency rescue of someone who has fallen, Inefredath would be your girl. In personality, Inefredath can be a little flaky and squirrelly, but she‘s among the more intelligent “bookish” greens at least with regards to an inherent grasp of the physical sciences. One of Inefredath’s interesting quirks is that she can sometimes lose herself in visual patterns. Where Nara is over-confident, Inefredath is insecure; where Nara is flighty, Inefredath is steadfast and is quick to remind Nara of her duty; Nara is a consummate flirt and extremely confident with the guys or even female blue riders, while Inefredath is shy, fidgety, and awkward with the male dragons. One thing they both have in common, however, is a love of having light-hearted fun and a strong sense self-preservation. Inefredath is inspired by the character Fred from Angel

Memorable Quotes:

"I've always felt that tradition is all well and good, as long as it remains practical and useful, and doesn't stand in the way of new and more useful ideas." ~ To Kestian in Backscrubbings

"Psh. You're not an idiot. Just not used to it. Don't apologize. Dwelling on things never get anything accomplished, I always say." ~ To Ciara in Like Minds

"My foster father always said that the trick is to make all work something like play, so it never feels like work." ~ To Indira in Of Hunts and Parties

“I mean, really. Who goes around lying about who he is and making up stories like that? Especially a bronzerider? Bronzeriders are obviously too stuck on themselves and have too much time on their hands.” ~ To Ciara in Girl Talk

"She said to speak with you about a skinning and tanning area to be set up, and what sort of entertainment or food you’d like to have at the gather afterward, and you’re supposed to scent two stallions, and the weyrwoman will be around next seven to ride you … I mean … your mare.” She looks at the ceiling. “I think.” ~ To Max in The Beast Manager And His Skittish Filly

“I think you’re dangerous.” ~ To E'ro in Manhandled Into Candidacy and then later to him in that same scene: “You were a pain in my ass before I ever met you,” she counters, “so how is this supposed to impress me?”

“I swear, sometimes I wonder how men ever get on without a woman to look after them.” ~ To Max in Hide 'n Seek and later to him in that same scene: “In fact, you couldn’t get me out of here fast enou—“ just as he kissed her.

“It’s like he has some kind of hold on me, Ci, and I can’t shake it. I can’t seem to wake up from it, and it makes me miserable all the same.” She sighs, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. “I promised myself I would get over him, but it’s not as easy as I thought it would be.” ~ To Ciara in Healing All Wounds

"The only reason why I am still with my virtue is because I’ve lived on the pokey end of Fort’s sweep for as long as I can remember and … . it just never … came up.” She sighs a bit, then adds, “Anyway, I’ll be glad to have that all done and behind me, eventually, but I’ll be a sharding dimglow if I allow a man to disrespect me or hurt me.” ~ To Indira in Foolish In Love

“And even if I were running from … him,” Ahni resumes petulantly, no point in being vague now that Zen appeared to know so sharding much, “ … it’s better to do the leaving than be the one … left behind, hurt and broken.” ~ To Zen, with Neni as witness, in Bathing In Barbs

“Ahthokahlawsewefervah!!” ~ To Max in Falling Part Deux and then later in that same scene to Waine: “I’m a horrible klutz, it seems. He’s going to keep me from impaling myself on a pitchfork as a result, and I’m to work on some kind of paperwork.” Pause. “In his office.” Pause. “Alone.”

“Are you a sharding simpleton or what? What do you mean by carrying on this way? This is ridiculous, really, Journeyman." ~ To Cheusia in Broken Dreams

“Well, surely not if you’re going about finding your way on your back." ~ To Isilna in Courage Is

“You couldn’t handle this kind of pie, fella.” ~ To a patron in Jaya's bar in Love and Whiskey and then later in that scene: “Everyone changes every day, even if it’s just …” she eyes the bar briefly, “switching from wine to brandy. We live; we learn; we change. The only way to get out of that is to get dead.”

“If you’re looking for your sharding herd, they’re not down here sucking up the mud!!” ~ To the mysterious creepy herdsman in Digging It Out

“This isn’t a race, Max, or … or some bizarre take on a Flight. No one’s winning anything here. Everyone’s lost …” the last said more softly, “something here.” ~ To Max in Heading Out

“And I will be calling upon them in the morning to make sure you have, and if you haven’t, my braid will be the last thing you will be worrying about me cutting off, beast manager. Understood?” ~ To Max in Threats and Promises

Trivia and Notes:

Ahnika isn't that bad a sort. She's just pragmatic with definition. Sometimes warm and friendly, but sometimes not, depending on the situation. I support ICA=ICC. I only ask that people keep a strong distinction between IC and OOC. Please note that Ahnika's IC behavior does not necessarily mean I, the player, behave that way OOCly.